SECTION I - Thermal cycling to quite modest temperatures, i.e., 80-100°C, affects markedly the future performance of Portland cement concretes. It is shown that ambient (or near ambient) curing temperatures result in pore fluid low in sulfate, while a brief thermal pulse during the early cure history of the cement paste results in increased sulfate solubilities. The trends observed in the pore fluids of four representative clinkers which have been thermally cycled are attributed to the redistribution with temperature of the sulfate phases, principally ettringite, 3CaO.A1₂O₃.3CaSO₄.32H₂O. Reformation of ettringite during the post-cooling period in thermally cycled pastes may lead to expansion. This 'potential' for expansion is quantified by calculation of molar volume changes with temperature for four representative clinkers. Similar expansion behaviour is predicted for all clinkers in accord with the similarity in bulk chemical composition. The mechanisms by which 'delayed' ettringite causes expansion are reviewed and suggestions for further work are proposed. SECTION II - An attempt is made to improve the activity of silica sand used in water purification by coating it with a high surface area oxide/hydroxide or iron , applied onto the sand grains using an aluminosilicate gel. The iron-containing bulk gel is characterised in terms of its gelling time and surface area. An alternative formulation based on prolonged gelling time is developed. Coatings on the sand grains of the two formulations are investigated by electron probe micro analysis (EPMA). The ion exchange properties of the gel formulations are evaluated using Mn²⁺, Fe³⁺, As⁵⁺ and As³⁺. Very efficient cation uptake properties are exhibited but the capacity of the system for anion uptake is comparatively low. Cation uptake mechanisms are reviewed and removal of Mn²⁺ and Fe³⁺ through precipitation of insoluble metal oxides/hydroxides, furnished by high local pH, is discussed. Research work with iron-containing aluminosilicate gel coatings is extended by investigating anion sorption, principally of arsenic species, As(V) and As(III), by crystalline oxides of iron; well-crystalline goethite and poorly-crystalline ferrihydrite have been synthesised and their sorption for arsenic as a function of time and solution pH is reported. Study of the sorptive mechanism points to a two-stage process for anions: an initial rapid step, believed to correspond to surface sorption, followed by a slower step believed due to time taken for migration of sorption species to sites of decreasing accessibility. Conditions for optimisation of capacity and rates of sorption do not however, always correspond to the normal pH of drinking water. Suggestions are made for future research.

This thesis examines the competitive impact of a trade or industry association. It focuses on the role of such associations in coordinating or orchestrating members to engage in cartel or collusive behaviour, and the effectiveness of such acts. More importantly, it seeks to provide empirical evidence of the presence of coordination and compliance between the association and its members. Providing empirical evidence for the presence of such actions has been a central and difficult issue in uncovering cartel or collusive behaviour by antitrust agencies around the world. / The thesis uses the Indonesian cement industry as a case study, because there have been many assertions that the Indonesian Cement Association has been involved in cartel-like behaviour (market sharing and quota distribution arrangements among members) for some time. Such behaviour was recognised and even sponsored by the Indonesian Government. However, following the change in the regulatory regime as a response to the Indonesian financial crisis of 1997, those assertions largely disappeared. Many Indonesians believed that since such arrangements were prohibited, the cartel-like behaviour of the Association had disappeared. / The general findings suggest that there exist some variations in the behaviour of the Association and its members between the pre-crisis period and the post-crisis period. During the pre-crisis period, when such arrangements were still in place, evidence of co-ordinated effort carried out by the Association in relation to most of its members was found. It was also suggested that in the long run, all members of the Association complied with the scheme. It is therefore reasonable to infer that the Association was behaving as an effective cartel. In contrast, during the post-crisis period, when such arrangements were allegedly no longer present, mixed results were found regarding the evidence of a coordinated and compliance relationship with the members. For that reason, it is plausible to suggest that the Association, even if it still carried out cartel-like behaviour, was not an effective cartel. / The structured analysis in this thesis offers a complementary framework for antitrust agencies to enhance their efforts to detect the presence of cartel practices, particularly those conducted by trade associations and when direct evidence is not available. In addition, the framework will also increase the capacity of antitrust agencies to adopt a more proactive role rather than waiting for whistleblowers. The framework can potentially also be used to indicate the existence of other forms of collusive behaviour such as tacit collusion, whereby conspirator firms may act in concert without any formal agreement. / Thesis (PhD)--University of South Australia, 2006.

Dissertation (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / Bibliography. Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (MScIng)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / Bibliography. Also available via the Internet.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Uppsala universitet, 2005. / Härtill 6 uppsatser.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2003. / Supervisor: David W. Fowler. Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Available also from UMI Company.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 260-273). Also available in electronic version. Access restricted to campus users.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1966. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2006. / Dr. Jennifer Michaels, Committee Member ; Dr. Jacek Jarzynski, Committee Member ; Dr. Jianmin Qu, Committee Member ; Dr. Laurence J. Jacobs, Committee Chair ; Dr. Kimberly E. Kurtis, Committee Co-Chair.

Thesis (M.Phil.)--Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available in electronic version.